Water-feed regulator.



W. A. KITTS, SR. & W. AQKITTS, JR- WATER FEED REGULATOR. APPLICATION FILED OCT. 15, 1907.

946,11 89,, Patented Jan. 11, 1910.

2 SHEETS SHBET 1.

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WATER FEED REGULATOR. APPLICATION FILED 0GT.15}1907.

Pat ented Jan. 11,1910.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

Illll boiler,

WILLARD A. Krrtr s sa, AND WILLARD A. KITTS,

JR.,OF OSWEGO, NEW YORK.

WATER-FEED REGULATOR.

Specification of Letters Patent. Patented J an, 11, 1910.

Application filed October 15, 1907. Serial No. 397,575.

To all whom it may concern: I

Be it known that we,'\V1LLAnn A. Kir'rs, Sn, and WILLARD A. Krrrs, J12, of Oswego, in the county of Oswego, in the- State of New York, have invented new and useful Improvements in ater-Feed Regulators, of which the following, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, is a full, clear, and exact description.

This invention relates to certain improvements in water feed regulators for steam boilers in which the action of the water.- regulating valve of the supply pipe is antomatically controlled by a steam pressure device and suitable mechanism controlled by therise and fall of the water in the boiler for re ulating the inlet and exhaust of steam to an 'from the pressure device.

, Heretofore the inlet and'exhaust of steam to and from the .pressure device has been controlled by float actuated valves, the float being located within a water column, which is connected to the water and steam chambers of the boiler so as to effect the same level of-water in the column as exists in the The actiouof the float is almost always more or less unreliable and variable, and the same may be said of the action of the inlet and exhaust valves where they are separately connected, and especially where they are located in chambers opening directly into the steam chamber of the water column, and all dependent for their action upon gravity alone. V

One of the essential objects of my present invention is to locate the steam inlet and exhaust valves for the pressure device wholly within a separate casing, which is removably secured to the water column, and

to provide an intercommunicating passagewith an automatically closing valve-which is normally held open by one of the inclosed parts of the valve-casing when-the latter is secured in place, but is free to automatically close by the pressure of steam or by the action of the weights and levers, when the water column.

Another object is to control the action of thesevalvcs through the medium of differential weights and differential levers located within the water column. 3

Another object is to provideirigid coupling for the inletand exhaust ves, wherein the following description.

' coupling therefor.

by the action ofboth valves is' positive and simultaneous. 7

Another object is to make these valves ad justable in the coupling relatively to each other and to their respective valve seats so as to vary the degree of opening, when desired. I

'A still further object is to provide the valve casing with a removable-cap whereby access may be had to one of the valves for adjustment, when necessary.

Another object is to provide adjustable means for limiting the action of the pressure device whereby-the valve in the water supply pipe may be prevented from closing positively so that a limited quantity of water may always flow to the boiler when such. a condition is desirable.

Other objects and uses. will be brought out In the drawings-Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view, partly in elevation, of a water-feed regulator, embodying the various features of our invention. Fig. 2 is an enlarged sectional view of the valve chamber for the steam inlet and exhaust valves,showing also the head 'of the-water column andvintercommunicating passage, together with the vali'e forsaid passage, and the adjacent portion of one of the operating levers. Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional view taken on line 3-3, Fig. 2. Fig. l is an elevation of the detached inlet an l exhaust valves, and the view of the main valvein the communicating passage between the column and valvecasing. Figs. 6, 7 and. 8 are perspective views respectively, oflhe valve-operating piston, the exhaust valve and bearing having a valve seat coacting with said exhaust valve. Fig. 9 is anelevation, partly in section, of the detached valve coupling.

In carrying out the objects stated, we provide a suitable water column -1- with awater inlet pipe 2 and a steam inletv pipe -3-, which latter may beconnected valvecasingis removed to prevent the escape of steam from the steam chamber of the? in any desired manner to the water;- and steam chambers respectively of a steam boiler, not shown, said column extending above and below the water line of the boiler in the usual manner, so as to establish the' same water lever inthe column as cxists'in the boiler, the water inlet i 2'-' usually entering the bottom of"t 1:? column, while the steam inlet-pipe --3- ez'ters the upper Fig. 5 is a perspective end of said column. This water column.

ing"6 and also the reduced threaded end 7 of'a valve casing'-8". The bearing -7 is provided with a central lengthwise passage -9 therethrough for establishing communication between the interior of the valve casing 8- and steam chamber of the water column l and is formed at its lower end with a valve seat --10 with which coacts a suitable valve 11',, the latter being provided with a depending stem 12 which is loosely guided in the socket 13 having a vertically movable support. 14- so that the valve '11 may automatically close against its seat 10 by the pressure of the steam when the valve casing -S-- is removed. The support 14 is pivoted at 15- to a lever l6-,' which latter is fulcrumed at 17- to an arm 1S depending from and secured to the member -4. This lever 16 extends some distance laterally beyond the pivot 15 of the support 14- and is provided with a weight 1S normally tending to depress the valve support:'

14-- to open. the valve ll-, said lever 16 being connected by a link 19, to a second lever 20, which is fulcrumed intermediate its ends to a supporting bracket 21- depending from and secured to the head l, the inner end of the lever 20 being connected by a rod or stem 22 to a second, but similar larger weight --23-'-. This latter weight 23 extends downwardly and dips into the water in the base of the column -1 and when the water in the boiler and column lowers, operates in the manner hereinafter described to more effectively close the steam inlet valve leading to the pressure device and to simultaneously open the exhaust valve leading from said pressure device. than would be possible with a float, thereby permitting the feed water- 'valve to be opened by a suitable mechanism hereinafter described. On the other hand, as the level of the water in the column 1- rises the weight 1S-, which is slightly greater than the difi'erence in specific gravities of the weight 23- and water' in which it is submerged lowers the valve -1lfarther from its seat and allows an additional valve presently described to open communication between the steam chamber of the column -1-' and the pressure device,

thereby causing the water-regulating valve to close or partiallyclose to reduce the quantity of water fed to the boiler.

The valve casing -8- is removably secured to 'thehead 4 of the column 1- and comprises essentially a base portion -25- and cap 26 screwed to the upper end of the base --'-25 and forming therewith a steam'chamber ---27' The base -2 is provided with a central lengthwise opening 28- having in its opposite ends screw-threaded bushings 29, the intermediate portion of said base being provided with opposite ports -30-- and -3l, the latter constituting an exhaust port and communicates with the by-pass 32- leading to the chamber 27--. The bushings -29 are formed with lengthwise passages -33 and 33, the passage -33- connecting the passage 28- with the chamber 27-- while the passage -33"-- connects the lower end of the passage -l8- with the passage 9. These bushings -29- form valve seats for opposed valves --;il8 and -;-l9-, the valve '38- controlling communication between the steam chamber of the column -1- and passage 2S while the valve -39 controls communication between the passage 2S- and exhaust passages 32- and -31-, said valves being located at opposite ends of the base section and are connected by a coupling -40- having threaded sockets in its opposite ends for receiving threaded stem 4El of the valves 8S and -I? thereby permitting either or both of said valves to be adjusted relatively to their respective valve seats. The port.-3O is connected by a conduit 42 to a suitable steam pressure device 43 consisting in this instance, of a shell having a transverse diaphragm against which the steam impinges. At the lower side of the pressure device below the diaphragm is located an adjustable screw stop -44 formed with a central aperture in which is guided a stem -45-, carrying at its lower end a valve l6- for regulating the water supply through a conduit 4J' which may lead to the boiler, as --A-, indicated in Fig. 1.

The stop 44' is made adjustable to limit the action of the diaphragm or pressure device by steam and for the purpose 0 permitting the valve up to close entirely, or to remain partly open when the pressure device is at the limit of its downward movement, as controlled by the stop -4l-. By this arrangement I am enabled to allow a greater or less quantity of water to pass through the conduit 47 to the boiler at all times, although the general supply is regulated by the pressure device 43, which in turn is controlled by the valves -38 and 39.

The plunger or valve stem 4r5- is provided with a transverse aperture l8 between the valve -46 and pressuredevice. through which is passed a lever -4t9- having one end pivoted at 50- to one side of a supporting frame. -51- and its opposite end guided in a slot- -52 in the opposite side of the supporting frame and adapted to bear a ainst the retractin spring -53, which lat er acting upon the ever -49- operates the valve r4:6 when the pressureis the valve -38 is closed to cut ofi communication between the steam chamber of the column "1 and pressure device, said pressure device is placed in communication with the exhaust passage -32'- by the opening of the valve 39. v

When the water in the column -1 rises to its normal level the weight 18 tends to draw the lever l6 and post ,14 mounted thereon downwardly thereby relieving the upward pressure upon the valve ll'- and incidentally through the coupling 40 allows both valves and their coupling to descend, thereby opening the lower valve 38- and closing the valve 39, this latter operation being facilitated bynieans of a piston 56 and a spring --'57, the

. piston 56 being movable in the ohamber 27, and together with the spring, is

located wholly within, but separable from the cap 26.. During this opening'of the valve 38- and closing of the valve .-39, the steam is allowed to pass from the steam chamber of the column 1 through the passages 9 and 33' into the passage -28-- of the valve casing, from which it passes-through the port 30 and conduit 42'. into the pressure device 43-, thereby depressing the piston of said pressure device and tending to close or partially. close the valve 46- according to the position of the limiting stop 4-il which may be adjusted to allow the valve to close-entirely or to limit the depression of the pressure device sufiiciently to hold the valve slightly open. On the other hand, assuming that the water level is lowered in the column 1- then the weight -23 which is heavier than the weight 18 descends and operates through the levers 20- and 16- to close the valve 38 and to open the valve-39, thereby cutting ofi communi-' cation between the steam chamber of the column 1 and pressure device 43, and establishing communication between said pres-v sure device and exhaust-port 31- through the pipe 42, passages28-- and 33- and passage 32, said valves being opened against the action of the spring -57, which is comparatively light and of just sufficient tension to hold the valves -39-- and 38 down against-steam pressure on the lower valve.

The valves--11, 38 and-39- are arranged in alinement, and although the valve 11- is separate from the adjacent valve -38- and also separate from 'its support 14 it is utilized as an abutment to'engage Y boilers, a water regulating valve, a steam the lower end of the valve --38+to close the water level in the column 1- lowers, and on the other hand, the downward pressure upon the valves 38 and 39 and their coupling 40-- by the spring 57', causes the valve 38- to depress the valve 11 and thereby assist the weight 18 in its function,

As. previously stated, the valves 38 and 39- are adjustable by simply screwing 'them in or out, as may be desired, in the adjacent ends of the coupling tO- so as to vary the degree of opening, but in either position the space between the seat for the valve 38 and that for the valvell is less than the distance between the seatengaging portions of the valves -38 and 11- so that when the valve 38- is closed the valve 11 will still be open, thereby assuring a passage of the steam from the steam chamber of the column to the pressure device? The coupling -4:0 is of less cross sectional area than the passage 28 in which it is movable so as to allow thepassage of steam through the passage 28, and this coupling is provided with a lengthwise slot 60 for receiving the inner end of a screw 61. which prevents turning of the coupling in the passage 28 during the adjustment of the valves 38 and -39.

If for any reason itshould be desired to remove the ,valve casing 8 by unscrewing it from the column head the pressure of the steam in the steam chamber of the water column or the movement ot'= the weights and levers will immediately close the valve 1l as soon as the valve 38 is withdrawn from engagement therewith during the act of unscrewing the valve casing 8 and thereby automatically shutting off the escapement of steam from the water column when such valve casing is removed.

The piston 56 which is cup shape is provided with an adjusting screw 5G' bearing against the upper end of the valve 9 for adjusting said piston and thereby regulating the tension of the spring .-57- which is interposed between the piston and top of the cap, said piston serving to partially inclosethe spring to protect the latter from direct contact with the steam and thereby conserve the temper of said spring.

The object of placing the exhaust by pass 32 in the base 25 of the valve casing is to permit the removal of the cap 26. for adjustment of the valves or, other interior repairs without being obliged to disjoin or remove any of the pipe connections for the admission or exhaust of steam to and from the pressure device.

What we claim is:

1. In a waterfeed regulator for steam chamber, a diaphragm movable insaid chamber, hollow adjusting means for said diaphragm connections between the diaphragm and valve and extending through said adjusting means for controlling the action of the latter, automatic means con- 4 to return the valve and diaphragm to their normal positions during the exit of steam from the steam chamber. I

2. In a water feed regulator for steam boilers, a water regulating valve, a steam pressure device controlling the action of said valve, a column having a steam-and-water chamber, a valve casing communicating with said chamber and also communicating with the pressure device and provided with an exhaust opening, valves in said casing, one of said valves controllingcommunicaton between said chamber and pressure device, and the other valve controlling communication between the pressure device and exhaust port, a cou ling connecting said valves, means -to hold the coupling against rotation, and means controlled by the water level in the column for controlling the action of said valves one of said valves being adjustable relatively to the other valve.

3. In a water feed regulator for steam boilers, a water regulating valve, a steam pressure device controlling the action of said valve, a column having a steam-andwater chamber, a valve casing communicating with said chamber andalso communicating with the pressure device and provided with an exhaust opening, valves in said casing, a nonrotatable coupling connecting said valves one of said valves controlling c0nnnunica tion between said chamber and pressure device, and the other valve controlling communication between the pressure device and exhaust port, and means movable in said column for controlling the action of said valves said means comprising a heavierthan-water weight immersed in the water in said column, and a lesser weight partially counterbalancing the first named weight.

4:. In -a water feed regulator for steam boilers, a water regulating valve, a steam pressure device controlling the action of said valve, a column having a water chamber, a valve casing communicating with said chamber and with said pressure device and provided with an exhaust port, valves movable-in the valve chamber a coupling connecting said valves, one of said valves controlling communication between said chamber and pressure device, and the other valve controlling communication between the pressure device and exhaust port, one of said valves being adjustable, and

means including differential weights controlled by the water level in the column for controlling the action of said valves one of said weights being heavier than water and the other. weight being connected to and partially counterbalancingthe first named Weight. v

In combination with a water column, a valve casing exterior to the column and removably secured thereto and communicating with the interior of the column, said valve casing having inlet and exhaust ports, separate valves for said ports, a coupling connecting said valve, and means controlled by the water level in the column for controlling the action of said valves and including a separate valve adapted to close communication between the valve chamber and column by the pressurev of steam when the valve casing is removed;

6. In combination with a steam boiler, a water column, a valve casing secured to the upper end of the column and provided with inlet and exhaust ports, a valve coupling movable in the valve casing between-said ports, means to hold the coupling againstv rotation valves adjustably secured to opposite ends of said coupling and coacting with said ports to control the inlet and exhaust of steam to and from the valve casing.

7. In combination with a steam boiler, a water column, a valve casing secured to the water column, and provided with inlet and exhaust ports, a valve coupling playing between said ports, and separate valves for said ports secured to opposite ends of the coupling, both of said valves being adjustable and a separate self-closing valve between the water column and valve casing and engaged and opened by the inlet. valve when the valve casing is secured in operative position.

8. In combination with a steam boiler, a water column, a valve casing secured exteriorly to the water column and communicating with the interior thereof, said valve casing being removable, a valve controlling the exit of steam from the water column. means carried by the valve casing for holding the valve open when itis in operative position, said valve closing automatically by a the steam pressure from Within the water column when the holding means is removed.

9. In a water feed regulator, the combination of'a column having a steam outlet, a valve forv the outlet, a valve casing removably secured in the outlet and provided with means 'for holding the valve open when the valve casino is in osition said valve closin automaticall b steam ressure within thecolumn when the valve casing is removed.

10. In a water feed regulator for steam boilers a water column, a valve casing having inlet and exhaust ports, valves for said ports; a coupling connecting said valves, one action of the first named valves through the of the valves being adjustable in the coupmedium of the separate valve. ling a separate self-closing valve between In witness whereof we have hereunto set the Water, column and valve casing and enour hands this 12th day of October 1907.

5 gaged and opened by the inlet valve when WILLARD A. KITTS SR. the valve 03.8111 is placed 111 operative po- 7 sition, a weigh ted lever upon which said WILLARD KITTS separate valve is mounted, and means con- Witnesses: trolled by the Water level in the column for H. E. CHASE,

10 operating said Weighted lever to control the l C. M. MCCORMACK. 

